Review Blog

Jul 27 2017

The rabbit-hole golf course by Ella Mulvey

Ill. by Karen Briggs. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781925266290
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Aboriginal themes. Desert. Australian
life. Rabbits. Bush tucker. Rhyme. With an eye to repetition and
rhyme, this tale of a group of children going out to the golf course
to find a rabbit is infectious, begging to be read aloud,
encouraging kids to sing along, make the noises and predict the next
lines. I can imagine a group of kids with sticks, beating to the
rhythm of the story, adding noise and excitement to the tale being
read out loud.
They set off in the big old ute, along the long red road to the golf
course, pitted with rabbit holes. Already the excitement of finding
a rabbit is infectious, and the children have lots of adventures
digging holes as big as they are, finding a kangaroo, looking for
rabbits, finding honey ants and maku, until finally, covered in red
dirt, they sit around the hole they have dug and wait for tea. The
families make tea and damper, and while there have been no rabbits
found, they all sleep soundly that night in their swags under the
stars.
The repetition of 'Where are all the rabbits?' encourages readers to
learn those lines and predict where they will appear, calling out
the line as the reader turns the page. Likewise other lines, 'the
big old ute', 'long red road' and 'desert of my home' encourages
kids to recognise the lines as they appear on the pages, asking them
to join in.
I love the colourful illustrations, adding another level of interest
and excitement to the story. Children will love picking out the slew
of animals pictured in the book, along with things which make it
recognisably set in the outback. The humour in the tale is reflected
in the illustrations with the children seeking a rabbit so
desperately but only seeing them in their dreams. I love the
repetition of the opening illustration and the last, a child asleep
dreaming of rabbits, although on the last page an actual rabbit
appears, possibly having a laugh at the children and their efforts.
The community is vividly portrayed, from its dot curtains, snuggly
woollen hat, to the scattering of dogs and families working
together.
And the endpapers show a mud map of where they are headed to find
the rabbit-hole golf course, where no one seems to actually want to
play golf (understandably). Karen also illustrated Kick with my
left foot, a standout publication in 2015, earning its place
on the CBCA shortlist.
Fran Knight